Navigational instruments and methods for the Amundsen and Scott expeditions to the South Pole.

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Author

Date

Permanent Link

Thesis Discipline

Science

Degree Grantor

University of Canterbury

Degree Level

Postgraduate Certificate

Degree Name

Postgraduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies

The navigational instruments and methods during the early 1900s provided a challenge for the organisation of an expedition to the South Pole. Navigational techniques had not changed radically since the time of James Cook and his voyages to locate the great southern continent. The instruments and methods of the early 1900s had to be adapted to be used in the extreme Antarctic conditions. The obvious conditions to addressed are the extreme cold and the effects it had on the instruments and the limitations of using a magnetic compass in IX)lar regions. "Ille navigational instruments and methods used on Amundsen and Scott expeditions will be compared. This paper will explore the choices Of their instruments and methods along with the impact that those choices had on the success of their individual expeditions to arrive and fix the location of the South Pole. The navigational instruments and methods during the early 1900s provided a challenge
for the organisation of an expedition to the South Pole. Navigational techniques had not
changed radically since the time of James Cook and his voyages to locate the great
southern continent. The instruments and methods of the early 1900s had to be adapted to
be used in the extreme Antarctic conditions. The obvious conditions to addressed are
the extreme cold and the effects it had on the instruments and the limitations of using a
magnetic compass in IX)lar regions. "Ille navigational instruments and methods used on
Amundsen and Scott expeditions will be compared. This paper will explore the choices Of
their instruments and methods along with the impact that those choices had on the
success of their individual expeditions to arrive and fix the location of the South Pole.